CHANDIGARH: With 2027 assembly elections in mind, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has decided to organize a Statewide Yatra covering all assembly constituencies which will start from Sri Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo on November 10.
The Yatra, which will be led by party president Sukhbir Singh Badal, will be conducted in three phases with the first phase being held from November 10 to 22. The second phase of the Yatra will be launched from Sri Anandpur Sahib and the third phase from Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
Disclosing this after the culmination of a series of meetings with the party’s Scheduled Caste, Backward Class and Youth wing, which were presided over by Mr Sukhbir Badal, senior leader Dr Daljit Cheema said the party president took first hand feedback on issues to be included in the party’s election manifesto as well as focusing on improving the party organization. He said the feedback received from the different party wings would be taken up for consideration in the next meeting of the party’s election manifesto committee on October 24. “The manifesto will be released on November 1”, he added.
Meanwhile, talking to newsmen, Mr Sukhbir Badal said the arrest of Amardeep Grewal, the brother in law of Gurpreet Kaur Mann, the chief minister’s wife, would bring the corruption being done in the chief minister’s residence before the people. “Be it Bhagwant Mann or his master Arvind Kejriwal, the central agencies are closing in on all of them. All of them will be booked and will face the consequences of their corrupt acts”.
Mr Badal also asserted that the chief minister was directly responsible for the murder of anti-drug crusader Parvinder Singh Jhota. He said instead of ending the drug menace, the Yudh Nasheyan Virudh campaign of the AAP government was resulting in the killing of anti-drug activists and whistleblowers. He also condemned the chief minister for running from pillar to post to get permission to fly to Paris for a jaunt at a time when Punjab was burning. “Bhagwant Mann should tell Punjabis why despite his foreign trips he has failed to get any foreign investment into the State”.
He also disclosed that Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann had prepared a detailed plan to extort industrialists. “They have neatly divided them into two categories — Rs 2 crore and Rs 5 crore for this purpose”, he added.
The meeting also passed a resolution condemning the murder of Parvinder Singh Jhota and resolved that the SAD would do its best to secure justice for the bereaved family. The heads of the SC wing – Gulzar Singh Ranike, BC wing – Hira Singh Gabhriya and Youth wing - Sarabjit Singh Jhinjher were also present in the meetings.